Product display system

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an improved display system that is compatible with a variety of different fixtures. In an illustrative embodiment, an integral hook and bracket system can be mounted to both wire grid and hanger bar fixture systems. After attachment of an adapter unit, the system of the illustrative embodiment can also be mounted to pegboard and slot wall fixture systems. In another aspect, the invention relates to an improved display device that incorporates a product information display member. In another illustrative embodiment, an integral hook and bracket assembly compatible with a plurality of different fixture systems includes a horizontally extending product information placard.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the display ofproducts, especially retail products. More specifically, the inventionrelates to brackets and hook systems for the display of products on avariety of different fixtures.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The packaging for many retail products is specifically designedto permit the products to be hung from a display hook. This displayarrangement provides several benefits, including providing customerswith an unobstructed view of the product, decreasing the amount of spacenecessary to display each product, and facilitating restockingoperations.

[0003] Several different wall fixtures have been developed to meet thestrong demand for hook display systems. The most prevalent arepegboards, hanger bars, wire grids and slat walls. Pegboard fixtures aresimilar to the perforated hardboard often used in residentialapplications for the hanging of yard tools and the like. U.S. Pat. No.4,560,062, “Method and Apparatus for Supporting a Display Carton,”issued to Valiulis on Dec. 24, 1985, illustrates how pegboard may beused for the display of retail products.

[0004] Hanger bars are horizontally disposed thin slats of metal, oftenabout 0.20-0.25 inch thick and about 1.00-1.25 inch tall, onto which aspecially designed hook or similar device can be placed. As describedand shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,764, issued on Sep. 1, 1981 to Pfeifer,several hooks can be mounted to a hanger bar and then selectively movedin a lateral direction to permit the efficient display of merchandisehaving a variety of different configurations and sizes.

[0005] An exemplary wire grid product display system is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 4,832,298, issued May 23, 1989 to Metcalf. Rows of evenlyspaced heavy gauge wire extend horizontally and, at a significantlygreater spacing, vertical support wires are welded to the rear of thehorizontal wire array. The wire is often 7 gauge, or about 0.1875 indiameter. Hooks are mounted directly to the horizontal wires, but theirhorizontal movement is limited by the interfering vertical supportwires.

[0006] Slat walls, sometimes also called slot walls, have horizontalslots to receive a mounting bracket. As explained and illustrated inU.S. Pat. No. 5,582,376, issued Dec. 10, 1996 to Thompson, in crosssection the slots have a tapered “T” shape. One end of a bracket havinga “Z” shape is introduced into the stem and one of the branches of the“T,” and thereafter allowed to rotate into a fixed position.

[0007] The brackets and hooks used with each of the foregoing systemsare generally incompatible with other fixture systems. For example, wiregrid brackets typically cannot be used on hanger bars, wire grids, orslat walls. Accordingly, it is often necessary for merchants to stockand install different brackets and hooks for each type of displayfixture. Manufacturers likewise suffer from lost economies of scalebecause lack of standardization necessitates the production anddistribution of lesser quantities of a wider variety of hooks andbrackets.

SUMMARY

[0008] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an improveddisplay system that is compatible with a variety of different fixtures.In an illustrative embodiment, an integral hook and bracket system canbe mounted to both wire grid and hanger bar fixture systems. Afterattachment of an adapter unit, the system of the illustrative embodimentcan also be mounted to pegboard and slot wall fixture systems.

[0009] In another aspect, the invention relates to an improved displaydevice that incorporates a product information display member. Inanother illustrative embodiment, an integral hook and bracket assemblycompatible with a plurality of different fixture systems includes ahorizontally extending product information placard.

[0010] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are setforth in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from the description, and from theclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product display hook that iscompatible with wire grid fixtures and hanger bar fixtures;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view an adapter for use with the productdisplay hook of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the product display hook of FIG. 1with the adapter of FIG. 2 installed therein;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the product display hook of FIG. 1mounted on a hanger bar;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the product display hook of FIG. 1mounted on a wire grid and aligned with a vertical wire on the wiregrid;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the product display hook of FIG. 3mounted on a peg board; and

[0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the product display hook of FIG. 3mounted on a slat wall.

[0018] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawingsindicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0019]FIG. 1 depicts a display hook 100 constructed in accordance withthe present invention. Display hook 100 includes a support element 108in the form of a mounting bracket, hanger hook 104, product label arm102 and product label placard 106. The support element 108 includes arear face 112 and an internal channel 114. Extending rearwardly from therear face 112 are two laterally spaced mounting members in the form ofextending fingers 110, the distal ends of which are parallel to the rearface 112. The hook 104 extends horizontally from the front face 116 ofthe support element 108 and terminates in a upwardly raised lip portion118. The product label arm 102 similarly extends from the front face 116of the support element 108. The arm 102 terminates in a productinformation placard 106 disposed in a generally vertically plane that issubstantially parallel to the front face 116 of the support element 108.Preferably, the entire display hook is integrally formed of relativelyimpact resistant poly-alpha-olefin via injection molding. Mostpreferably, one to six inch hooks are constructed of 38% glass-filledpolycarbonate and seven to ten inch hooks are constructed with 43%glass-filled nylon. Alternatively, the hook may be made from metal,composites, or other suitable materials known in the art.

[0020]FIG. 2 depicts an adapter unit 200 for use in connection with thedisplay hook 100. The adapter 200 can be formed out of a single piece ofheavy gauge metal wire or high yield strength injection molded plastic,but can be advantageously constructed from any suitably durablematerial. The adapter 200 depicted in FIG. 2 is formed of heavy gaugewire. The distal hook portions 202 segue into horizontal extensionportions 204 and 206. Vertical clip-in sections 208 and horizontalclip-in sections 210 are adapted to be held inside interior channel 114of the display hook 110, as is described in more detail hereinbelow.

[0021]FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which adapter 200 cooperates withdisplay hook 100. Distal portions of fingers 110 are placed in contactwith the upper surface of horizontal sections 206. By application ofdownward force, the distal ends of fingers 110 pass over sections 208,along vertical wire sections 208, and then into engagement withhorizontal clip-in section 210. Elastic bending force created bymovement the fingers away from rear face 112 holds adapter 200 in placewithin the interior channel 114 of display hook 100.

[0022] Returning to FIG. 1, the depicted display hook is fullycompatible with both wire grids and hanger bars. FIG. 4 illustrates theinstallation of display hook 100 on hanger bar 402. Display hook 100 ismounted on hanger bar 402 in a fashion similar to that described abovein connection with the adapter unit 200. Distal portions of fingers 110are placed in contact with the upper surface 404 of hanger bar 402. Byapplication of downward force, the distal ends of fingers 110 passdownward over the face 406 of hanger bar 402. Elastic bending forcecreated by movement the fingers away from rear face 112 holds displayhook 100 firmly in place on hanger bar 402. Optionally, the fingers 110may be configured so as to project slightly below lower edge 408 ofhanger bar 402, so that a ridge or similar projection on the internalsurface of fingers 110 contacts the lower edge 408 of hanger bar 402. Insuch embodiments, the ridge serves to more securely hold display hook100 on hanger bar 402.

[0023] Turning now to FIG. 5, the display hook 100 is mounted on a wiregrid 502. The fingers 110 extend around the rear surface of thehorizontal wires 504. Here again, a ridge, detent or similar aberrationon the internal surface of fingers 110 can be incorporated to moresecurely affix display hook 100 to horizontal wires 504. Advantageously,the split or gap between fingers 110 permits the display hook to bemounted in alignment with a vertical wire 506, as shown.

[0024]FIG. 6 depicts the hook and adapter combination 300 (shown in FIG.3) installed on a peg board 602. Distal hook portions 202 of adapter 200reside behind peg board 602. To release the hook and adapter unit 300from peg board 602, the display hook is raised vertically, which has theeffect of pulling horizontal wire sections 204 slightly out of the pegholes 604 and tilting hook sections 202 toward a horizontal plane. Bycontinuing the lifting motion while pulling the unit 300 away from thepeg board 602, the unit 300 is fully released therefrom. Installation isaccomplished by reversing the foregoing steps.

[0025]FIG. 7 illustrates the hook and adapter unit 300 installed on aslat wall 702. Slat wall 702 has T-shaped channel 704 with a stem 706and vertically extending channels 708, 710. In the same manner describedabove in connection with the peg board application, the unit 300 isinstalled with its hook portions 202 projecting upwardly into thevertical channel 708. The gravity and friction firmly maintain the hookand adapter unit 300 in place.

[0026] The configuration of the display hook and adapter of the instantinvention can be readily modified to accommodate different fixtureconfigurations and provide additional functionalities. For instance,extending hooks may be incorporated directly into support element 108 soas to obviate the need for a separate adapter. The display hook andadapter can advantageously be integrally formed of metal in suchembodiments. The faces 112 and 116 of the mounting section 108 need notbe planar or flat. Similarly, the fingers 110 need not have a flat,planar construction. The gap between fingers 110 can be advantageouslybridged to provide further structural support for particularapplications. The length of fingers 110 can be readily modified to, forexample, ensure that a ridge, detent, or other mating structure onfinger 110 cooperates with a hanger bar, wire grid, or other displayfixture. The adapter 200 can also have a variety of differentconfigurations. Wire sections 206, 208, and 210 can be advantageouslyreplaced with a single planar body section that occupies substantiallyall the interior channel 114 of bracket section 108. The hook sections202 can be likewise reconfigured to constitute a continuous arcuateflange that is particularly well suited for slat wall applications. Asnoted above, adapter features (such as the hooks 202) can beincorporated directly into the display hook support element 108, ifdesired.

[0027] The display placard arm 102 and hook 104 can be provided with anynumber of advantageous configurations. The arm or the hook can beeliminated entirely to provide a label arm without a hook or a hookwithout a label arm. The latter arrangement is preferred where prices orother applicable information are displayed on the products themselves oron another “price off” device, such as a channel on the front edge of anassociated shelving unit. The length of the arm 102 and hook 104 canhave any desired length. The arms need not reside in a horizontal plane,and can be advantageously provided in upwardly, sidewardly, ordownwardly projecting embodiments. The arms also need not be formedintegral with the remainder of the display hook 100. If additionalstrength or versatility is desired, the various components of displayhook assemblies 100, 300, can be made in interfitting relation out ofdifferent materials. The placard 106 can be substituted with virtuallyany known tagging or labeling means. Arm 102 need only be reconfiguredto receive and secure the desired tagging or labeling means. Hook 104 isshown as a generally linear bar, but an undulating, stepped, or otherdesirable configuration can be readily used within the spirit of theinstant invention.

[0028] The aforementioned aspects of this invention may be also bemodified to accommodate display fixtures other than wire grids, hangerbars, slat walls, and peg boards. The mounting components such as hooks202 and fingers 110 can be advantageously reconfigured so as to becompatible with other existing fixtures, if desired.

[0029] The foregoing illustrative embodiments have been described in thecontext of product display hook. However, those skilled in the art willreadily appreciate that the display hook of the instant invention is notlimited to use in a retail environment or in connection solely withvertically hung merchandise. Rather, in several of the aforementionedrespects the device may be implemented in connection with the display orstorage of almost any item in any environment. For instance, the hookand adapter assemblies of the invention may be implemented inwarehousing or similar applications where mounting versatility isdesired.

[0030] A number of embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various additionalmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising a display fixtureselected from the group consisting of peg board fixtures, slat wallfixtures, hanger bar fixtures, and wire grid fixtures in combinationwith a display system comprising: a hook having a proximal end and adistal end; a mounting bracket having a substantially planar frontsurface and a substantially planar rear surface, said front surfacebeing attached to and integrally formed with the proximal end of thehook, and a plurality of finger members projecting rearwardly anddefining an interior channel that is adapted to receive at least one ofa bar and a wire; an adapter element having distal and proximalportions, said proximal portion being adapted to be received in theinterior channel and said distal portion being adapted to be received inat least one of a peg board fixture and a slat wall fixture; and aproduct information display member comprising an elongate bar and adisplay element, said elongate bar and display element being integrallyformed with the mounting bracket.
 2. A display system comprising: a hookhaving a proximal end and a distal end; a support element having a frontsurface and a rear surface, said front surface being attached to theproximal end of the hook; a plurality of mounting members projectingrearwardly from the support element and defining an interior channel,said mounting members adapted to receive at least one of a bar fixtureand a wire grid fixture; and an adapter element having distal andproximal portions, said distal portion being adapted to be received inat least one of a peg board fixture and a slat wall fixture.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the hook, support element, and mountingmembers are integrally formed of the same material.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the adapter is integrally formed with the hook, supportelement, and mounting members.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein theadapter further comprises a proximal portion adapted to be received inthe interior channel.
 6. The system of claim 2, further comprising aproduct information display member attached to the support element. 7.The system of claim 5, wherein the product information display member isattached to the support element with an elongate bar.
 8. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the mounting members are fingers having distal endssubstantially parallel to the rear face of the support element anddefining a space therebetween adapted to receive a vertical wire of awire grid fixture.
 9. A display system comprising: a hook having aproximal end and a distal end; a support element having a front surfaceand a rear surface, said front surface being attached to the proximalend of the hook; a plurality of mounting members projecting rearwardlyfrom the support element and defining an interior channel, said mountingmembers adapted to receive at least one of a bar fixture and a wire gridfixture; and a product information display member attached to thesupport element.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising anadapter element having distal and proximal portions, said distal portionbeing adapted to be received in at least one of a peg board fixture anda slat wall fixture.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the adapterfurther comprises a proximal portion being adapted to be received in theinterior channel.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the hook, supportelement, mounting members, and display member are integrally formed ofthe same material.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the adapter isintegrally formed with the hook, support element, mounting members, anddisplay member.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the productinformation display member is attached to the support element with anelongate bar.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein the mounting membersare fingers having distal ends substantially parallel to the rear faceof the support element and defining a space therebetween adapted toreceive a vertical wire of a wire grid fixture.
 16. An apparatuscomprising a store display fixture selected from the group consisting ofpeg board fixtures, slat wall fixtures, hanger bar fixtures, and wiregrid fixtures in combination with a display hook system comprising: ahook having a proximal end and a distal end; a support element having afront surface and a rear surface, said front surface being attached tothe proximal end of the hook; a plurality of mounting members projectingrearwardly from the support element and defining an interior channel,said mounting members adapted to receive at least one of a hanger barand a wire grid; and an adapter element having distal and proximalportions, said distal portion being adapted to be received in at leastone of a peg board fixture and a slat wall fixture.
 17. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the hook, support element, and mounting members areintegrally formed of the same material.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the adapter is integrally formed with the hook, support element,and mounting members.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the adapterfurther comprises a proximal portion adapted to be received in theinterior channel.
 20. The system of claim 16, further comprising aproduct information display member attached to the support element. 21.The system of claim 20, wherein the product information display memberis attached to the support element with an elongate bar.
 22. The systemof claim 16, wherein the mounting members are fingers having distal endssubstantially parallel to the rear face of the support element anddefining a space therebetween adapted to receive a vertical wire of awire grid fixture.